Dear Friend in Christ,
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16
Each and every day, Jesus shares His love with us and is eager for us to embrace Him. As Jesus proclaims in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works, and glorify your heavenly Father.” The Catholic Sharing Appeal (CSA) brings the light of Christ’s love to our communities.
You make such a difference in the lives of thousands of people across the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. Last year, nearly 4,200 donors came together to contribute $3 million in gifts to the Catholic Sharing Appeal. This is a true testament of how you answered His call and spread His light and love.
Each gift that is entrusted to the Catholic Sharing Appeal is received with great gratitude. The stewardship of your gifts is very important to me. You may be asking, “How was my gift used?” Each parish is assigned a goal, based on a 3 year average of their offertory. The first 50% of the parish goal supports shared ministries, Catholic education, outreach efforts as well as grants to parishes, schools and food pantries. Every dollar raised after the 50% is returned to parishes to be used for their greatest needs.
Like you, we are using the gifts God has bestowed on us through your generosity to spread the light of Christ. Through CSA funding, our ministries are enhanced.
- 250 faithful from our Diocese have the opportunity to attend the National Eucharistic Revival this summer.
- Your funds provide children who cannot afford to pay an opportunity to enrich their faith lives in a fun-filled atmosphere at Camp Carlo.
- Your parish leaders have the opportunity to continue their education in administering their churches at the diocesan hosted PACE conference.
- We help provide essential care and supplies for expectant mothers through the Walking with Moms program.
These are just a few examples of how your support of the CSA changes lives in our Diocese and throughout the state. For a complete list of ministries, programs and grants supported through the CSA, please visit the website, dwc.org/csa. Thank you for deepening your relationship with Jesus by supporting those in need.
Catholic education also benefits in a tremendous way from CSA donations – $380,625 of the CSA funding received last year supported Catholic education. 1,203
students received tuition assistance, faculty and staff receive professional development, and more than $71,000 was granted to 21 schools for various needs including new Chromebooks, renovations to classrooms, and security and safety enhancements.
The most significant impact of your generosity is seen in our parishes. More than $2.1 million of the funds donated last year supports the 91parishes and 21 missions in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. Parishes have the autonomy to determine how their portion of the funds they receive will be used. From supporting 200-250 families per month with their drive-thru food pantry at Risen Lord in Maysel, to supporting the activities of the Mommy Ministry at Sacred Heart in Bluefield, to replacing extrerior church doors at Immaculate Conception in Fairmont, your donations impact your local pairsh in significant ways.
The CSA is a light that comforts, heals and strengthens. When you support the CSA, you are shining the light of Christ and bringing hope to your neighbors. It is a call to action. How will you answer this call? I invite you to join me as you have done in the past by supporting the annual Catholic Sharing Appeal today.
As you prayerfully consider your gift to the 2024 CSA, may God continue to bless you and your family in this new year, and know my prayers are with you always.
With kindest personal regards, I remain,
Sincerely in Christ,
+Mark E. Brennan
Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston